Weft-replenishing mechanism for looms.



PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903. A. SMITH, S. JAGKS ON & O. HUDSON. WEPT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

N0 MODEL. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1902. 5 SHEBTg-SHEET 1.

HHI UI I I I lll I lllllllllNHHllh INVENTORS WITNESSES PATENTED NOV. 24., 1903. A. SMITH, S. JACKSON & G. HUDSON.

WEPT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.'4. 1902.

K0 MODEL. 5 SHEBTS-SHEBT 2.

WITNES lNVENTORS No. 745,078. I PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903. A. SMITH, S. JACKSON & G. HUDSON. WEI'T REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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No. 745,078. I PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903. A. SMITH, JACKSON (Kc-O. HUDEON.

WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1902.

no MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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INVENTORS Wnuasszs 544%! M f m M No. 745,078. PA'QIENTED NOV. 24, 1903; A. SMITH, s. JACKSON & 0. HUDSON. WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS'.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1902.

11 0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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UNITED STATES ."Patented November 24, 1903.

PATFT @rrren.

ALFRED SMITH, SIMEON JACKSON, AND CHARLES HUDSON, OF KEIGHLEY,

. ENGLAND.

WEFT-REPLENISHING MECHANISM FOR LOOWIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Eatent No. 745,078, dated November 24, 1903. Application filed February 4, 1902. Serial No. 92,534. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALFRED SM1TH,SIMEoN Jackson, and CHARLES HUDSON, subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Keighley, in the county of York, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Weft-Replenishing Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is applicable to the class of loom in which when required the working shuttle is by an automatic motion replaced by one from a magazine with the primary parts of the loom at rest.

One object of our invention is to provide means whereby the loom is not automatically restarted, but remains at its inoperative position if the working shuttle is, through some fault in the working of the loom in the box, at the non-changing end of the slay-board or in the shed of the warp when the changemotion mechanism has been put into operation. The present loom is one in which the ordinary mechanisms are thrown out of operation upon exhaustion of the weft to a predetermined degree, auxiliary mechanism for replenishing the supply of weft being brought into action, and when this latter is effected the said ordinary mechanism of the loom is again made active.

Another object is to render the primary parts of the loom inoperative and put the shuttle change mechanism into operation when the weft in the working shuttle has been reduced to a predetermined extentthat is, when the weft is nearly exhausted.

In the accompanying drawings, which illus trate our invention, Figure 1 is an end View of the changing end of loom, showing all the parts necessary (the other parts have been purposely omitted) to attain the first object of our invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing a back view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the opposite end of slay-board to that in Fig. l or the non-changing end. Fig. 4 shows an end view of the parts by which we attain the second object of our invention. Fig. 5 is a detail of parts in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a back view of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an end view of a modification of the construction shown by Fig. 4, hereinafter referred to; Fig. 8, a detail of the parts in Fig. 7, and Fig. 9 a

front View of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a detail side view of the weft-fork 54 and the parts coop crating with it. Fig. 11 is an end view of the magazine and the slay-board. Fig. 12 is an end view of the four tappets which actuate the auxiliary mechanism of the magazineand slay-board.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Our method of arranging the parts to attain the first object of our invention is as follows: We make use of the ordinary stoprod 1 of the loom, and the finger 2, which is in contact with the sweller 3 of the box at the non-changing end, is of ordinary construction. (See Fig. 8.) We make the finger which is in contact With the sweller 4 at the changing end of the slay-board 5 (see Fig. l) in two parts 6. and 7. One part, 6, which is in contact with the sweller 4, is loosely mounted on the stop-rod 1 and by means of the pin 8 is connected to the second part, 7. The connection is a knuckle-joint 9, and a flat spring 10 serves to hold the second part in its normal position. The spring 10 is secured to the main part6 of the finger, and it bears on a projection 10 on the part 7. Another finger, 11, is rigidly mounted on the stop-rod 1. A projection 12 from the first part of the loose finger 6 is connected, by spring'13, to a stud 14, attached to the finger 11, and this stud 14 is extended to be in contact with the first part 6 of the loose finger, (hereinafter referred to.) Thus when the loom is running the first part 6 of loose finger is pushed back by the sweller 4. The sweller 4 also pushes back the stud 14 and operates the fast finger 11, thus raising the dagger 15 clear of the buffer 16, and in this manner the loose finger 6 and 7 and the fast finger 11 work as an ordinary stop-rod finger.

The loose finger 6 and 7 takes up two positions-one as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, when the shuttle is not present in the box, and the other as shown in dotted lines 6 .and 7 in Fig. 1, when the shuttle is present in the box.

To the cross-head 17, which is employed for raising the box-front 18 of the loom, which is not novel to nor included in our present invention, we now attach a projection 19, and we connect its operating-lever 20 by means of the rod 21, lever 22, shaft 23 across the loom, lever 24, rod 25, and lever 26 to the setting-on handle 27 of the loom. Thus when the shuttle-changing motion has been put into operation and the primary parts of the loom are at rest and the shuttle is at the changing end'of slay-board the first part of the loose finger 6 is pushed back and the second part 7 forward, as shown in dotted lines 6 and 7 in Fig. 1, thus allowing the projection 19 from the cross-head 17 to pass on the rear side of the latter. The working shuttle is then replaced by one from the magazine and the primary parts of the loom put into operation. If, however, the shuttle-changing motion has been put into operation and the shuttle is in the box atthe non-changing end or in the shed of the warp, then the position of the two parts 6 and 7 of the loose finger is as shown in Fig. 1, and the projection 19 from the crossthead 17 passes on the front side of the second part of the loose finger 7, slightly pushing backward same in its upward motion, and when it is making its downward motion its projection comes in contact with this second part of finger 7, and is thus held rigid at its raised position. When the cross-head 17 is held rigid, its lever 20 is likewise held, and, as'already mentioned, this lever 20 works in connectionrwith the settingon handle 27. The lever 26 would then take up the position shown in dotted lines 26*, thus preventing the setting-on handle 27 from being placed at its active position by the automatic motion, and thus the primary parts are not put into operation.

In order to operate the auxiliary mechanism, four revoluble tappets, Fig. 12, are provided and are operated by the loose pulley of the machine. A shuttle-magazine 76 and a shuttle-carrier 74 are provided and are arranged with respect to the slay-board 5, as shown in Fig. 11. The box-front 18 and the cross-head 17 are first raised by the tappet 70 and intermediate mechanism of approved construction. The shuttle is then ejected by the sweller 4, operated from the tappet 73 by means of the lever 71, rod 72, and other intermediate mechanism of approved construction. The shuttle-carrier 74 is then operated by the tappet 75 and other intermediate mechanism of approved construction, and it transfersashuttle from the magazine 76 to the shuttle-box. The tappet 77 is provided to finally restart the loom and places the belt on the fast pulley by means of suitable belt-shifting mechanism. These tappets, magazine, and operating mechanism do not form a part of the present invention.

The intermediate mechanism for operating the cross-head 17 by means of the cam 70 is shown in Fig. 1, and it preferably consists of a pivoted bell-crank lever 20 and a rod 80. The cam 70 operates one arm of the bell-crank lever, and its other arm is connected to the cross-head 17 by the rod 80.. The cam moves the bell-crank lever in one direction, and it is moved in the reverse direction by means of a spring 81.

We attain the second object of our invention, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, as follows: We affix a frame 28, having the projections 29 and 30 and carrying the two projecting studs 31 and32. The projections 29 and 30 carry loosely the rod 33, and a sliding plate 34 is mounted on the studs 31 and 32. On the rod 33 are rigidly mounted the finger 35 and the connection 36 for the feeler, and a sleeve 37, having finger 38, is mounted loosely on the rod 33. The indicator 39 is connected tothe sleeve 37, and this latter is connected by a spring 40 to the finger 35 in such a manner that the tension of the spring 40 tends to press forward the indicator 39 and lower the finger 35. The feeler 41 is secured by stud 42 to its connection 36 and has a projecting plate 43, hereinafter referred to. It is situated and operated so that at each operation of the slay-board 5 it projects into the shuttle-box of the slay-board and at each alternate operation of the slay-board 5 projects through an aperture of the shuttle 44.

The sliding plate 34 is connected by rod 45 and swivel-joint 46 to the framework 47 of the loom and in this manner receives a reciprocating motion at each operation of the slayboard 5. It has a raised part 48, which is cam-shaped and raises the finger 35, and the sleeve-finger 38 passes through the slot 49 in same. The sleeve-finger 38 is connected by rod 50 and arm 51 to the shaft 52, to which is secured the wire 53, and this latter is brought into contact on each operation of the slayboard 5 with a supplementary weft-fork 54.

A primary weft-fork is provided and operates in the usual manner. The primary weft-fork is not shown, as it is of ordinary approved construction. The weft-fork 54 is in contact at each alternate'operation of the slay-board 5 with the ordinary weft-fork lever 55 of the loom, and this latter is so timed that it is in contact with the weft-fork 54 when the shuttle is at the end of the slay-board where the feeler 41 is located. From the foregoing it will be seen that at each operation of the slayboard 5 the sliding plate 34 slides backward and forward and by its raised or cam part 48 raises the finger 35 also, as already explained, lowers the feeler 41, and, further, allows the finger 35 to be lowered and the feeler 41 raised by the tension of the spiral spring 40. The feeler 41 touches the weft on the bobbin in the shuttle 44 at each alternate operation of the slay-board 5, and if there be sufficient weft the projection 43 on same arrests the forward motion of the indicator 39, and it, however, the weft has been reduced to the predetermined extent-that is, nearly exhausted-then it allows the indicator 39 to go forward under the said projection 43. The indicator 39 is connected to the sleeve-finger 38, and this is in the pathof the slot 49 of the sliding plate 34, and when the feeler 41 arrests the forward motion of the indicator raaove 39 the sleeve-finger 38 is situated at the bottom of the slot 49. If, however, the feeler 41 permits the indicator 39 to be forced forward by the tension of the spring 40, the sleeve-finger is raised to the top side of slot 49, and when in this position the sleeve-finger 38 by its connections 50 and 51 turns the shaft 52, and when in this position the wire 53 is moved clear of the weft-fork 54 and the latter engages with the weft-fork lever 55, which stops the loom and starts the automatic motion for the changement of shuttles in the well-known manner.

In our modification of the second part of our invention, as shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, the feeler 56 feels the weft on the bobbin through an aperture in front of shuttle 44. It is secured by stud 57 to its connection 58, and the latter is loosely mounted on the shaft 59. Theindicator 60 is fixed on the shaft 59, and a spiral spring 61 is connected to the shaft 59 in such a manner as to obtain the downward motion of the indicator 60. The feeler 56 has a projection 67, which engages with theindicator 60, as shown in Fig. 7, and normally holds the indicatorin its raised position against the pressure of the spring 61. The spring 61 is wound on the shaft 59. One end of it is secured to the said shaft and its other end is secured to a stationary bracket,

so that the indicator is pressed downward.

A backward motion is given to the feeler 56 at each operation of the slay-board 5 by means of rod 62, secured to the framework of the loom, slide 63, and indicator 60. A spring 64: gives it a forward motion. The rod 62 is secured to any convenient stationary part of the loom and is preferably secured to the lower part of the end of the frame under the back of the slay-board 5 when the latter is in its back position. The feeler enters and leaves the shuttle as the slay board approaches and recedes from its forward position. A wire tappet 65, which is in contact with the supplementary weft-fork 54., is secured to the shaft 59. The slide 63 and feeler 56 work freely in the bracket 66, which is secured to the slay-board 5 and is also adapted to receive the shaft 59.

As already explained, motion is imparted to the feeler 56 at each operation of the slayboard 5, and at each alternate operation it feels the weft in shuttle 44. Thus if there be sufficient weft on the bobbin in the shuttle 44 the indicator 60 is held back by the projection 67 of the feeler 56, as shown in Fig. 7, and the wire 65, which is secured to the same shaft 59, raises the weft-fork 5% clear of the weft-fork lever 55, as shown by full lines in Fig. 10. If, however, the weft has been reduced to the predetermined extent-that is, nearly exhausted--then the indicator 60, under the influence of the spring 61, moves forward clear of the projection 67 on the feeler 56, as shown in Fig. 8, and the wire is then clear of the weft-fork 54 and allows same to engage with the weft-fork lever 55,

which stops the loom and starts the automatic motion.

'What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a loom stop-rod, and a finger 11 secured to it and provided with a stud 14 at its free end; of a sweller 4, a finger 6 for engaging the sweller said finger being mounted loosely on the said rod and bearing against the said stud, an operatinglever, a hooked extension-finger 7 pivoted to the lower part of the said finger 6 and operating to hold the operating-lever out of action when moved in one direction, a spring connecting the fingers 11 and 6, and a spring secured to the finger 6 supporting the extension-finger 7 in its normal position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a slay-board, and a reciprocatory feeler which touches the bobbin in the shuttle periodically; of a weft-fork lever for stopping the loom, a supplementary weft-fork for engaging the said lever, a wire tappet carried by the slay-board and normally engaging the said weft-fork at each operation of the slay-board, a spring-operated indicator operatively connected with the said tappet and normally resting on a projection of the said feeler, said indicator being released from the said projection when the thread of the bobbin is reduced to a prearranged extent and thereby permitting the said tappet to be moved out of action, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a slay-board, and a reciprocatory feeler which touches the bobbin in the shuttle periodically; of a shaft 33 supported from the slay-board, a finger 35 secured on the shaft 33, a reciprocatory cam 48 which operates the finger 35 at each operation of the slay-board, a weft-fork lever for stopping the loom, a supplementary Weft-fork for engaging the said lever, a wire tappet carried by the slay-board and normally engaging the said weft-fork at each operation of the slay-board, a spring-operated indicator 39 and a finger 38 mounted on the shaft 33 said indicator normally resting on a projection of the said feeler, a connection between the finger 3S and the said tappet, and an arm 36 secured on the shaft 33 and reciprocating the said feeler, said indicator being released from the said projection when the thread of the bobbin is reduced to a prearranged extent and thereby permitting the said tappet to be moved out of action, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED SMITH. SIMEON JACKSON. CHARLES HUDSON.

Witnesses J. N. CLARKSON, THos. WHITAKER.

IIO 

